Pubdate: Wed, 31 Jan 2007 Source: Vancouver Courier (CN BC) Copyright: 2007 Vancouver Courier Contact: http://www.vancourier.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/474 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v07/n092/a05.html Author: Russell Barth Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.) SHUT DOWN DARE AND DISBAND RCMP To the editor: Re: "Horsemen differ with VPD over DARE," Jan. 24. DARE is worse than no program at all. Don't believe me? Compare the teen marijuana use rates from 1990 and 2005. Or, compare Canada's teen pot use rate today to that of the Netherlands (about half as many Dutch teens use pot as Canadian teens). As a Federal Medical Marijuana Licence Holder who is also married to one, I deeply resent DARE's non-factual information, specifically about marijuana. This, I feel, is the main reason they have been a complete failure most places they operate. Kids realize they have been systematically lied to by people of authority. Prohibition is a greater threat to society than the drugs themselves could ever be, and DARE is one of their main propaganda departments. It isn't about truth, it is about fear and obedience, and the fact that they aim it at children is downright evil. Not only should DARE be discontinued, the RCMP should be disbanded for -among many other things-lying to kids and to the public for so long about drugs, and about prohibition. Russell Barth Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman